VICE-REGAL VISIT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21828, 15 December 1932, Page 6

VICE-REGAL VISIT

INTEREST IN INDUSTRY INVICTA HOUSE INSPECTED HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS ADDRESSED The Governor-General (Lord Bledisloe) and Lady Bledisloe inspected the warehouse and factory of Messrs Coull, Somerville and Wilkie yesterday morning. Their Excellencies were met at the entrance to Invicta House by Mr T. Somerville and escorted to the board room, where they wore introduced to the directors. Others present were Mr James Hogg (president of the Manufacturers’ Association) and Mrs Hogg, Mr J. G. Dykes (president of the Chamber of Commerce), the Mayor (Mr R. S. Black), the Deputy-mayor (Mr F. W. Mitchell), and Mr Sheed (Department of Industries and Commerce). In welcoming , their Excellencies, Mr Somerville gave an assurance of the loyalty and patriotism of the firm and its employees. The firm was the amalgamation of two pioneer firms. The whole of the capital subscribed was British, and 90 per cent, of the plant and raw material used were British. Notwithstanding the competition from foreign sources the company was still British. The visit recalled the tour of the Duke and Duchess of York many years ago. On that occasion the firm had printed an invitation, which was much appreciated, later being adopted for the visit to Australia. The invitation interested his Excellency, who remarked that, for the period, it was remarkably artistic. His Excellency thanked Mr Somerville for his expressions of loyalty. Nothing appealed to his Majesty more than the use 1 of British capital, plant, and materials in industry, and in conveying the loyal expressions he would make special mention of the interesting statistics presented by Mr Somerville.

The chairman of directors also mentioned that the Samuel Marsden Journal, recently published by Invicta House, was wholly British. His Excellency said that his Majesty had accepted a copy of the journal and he was immensely pleased with the production. His Majesty had expressed himself as being very glad that the journal was recommended for his acceptance.

Lord Bledisloe’s aide-de-camp, Captain Tweedie, was very interested in a photogravure of the Argyll and Sutherland Band, which played at the Exhibition, as he was attached to the regiment, of which his father was in command.

The condition of trade and industry was briefly discussed with those present by his Excellency, who remarked that Christmas trade appeared to be maintained throughout the Dominion. Their Excellencies were conducted through the works by Messrs J. C. H. Somerville and T. C. Coull. At the conclusion of the visit to the factory Mr James Hogg, as president of the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association; took the opportunity to bring before the notice of his Excellency the unqualified support given by manufacturers to his remarks at the Rotary luncheon regarding the necessity for full co-operation in every Way as between interests represented by agriculture, industry and commerce. Now, more than ever, should it be realised that these great agricultural and industrial divisions were interdependent and complementary to each other. Reference was also made to rationalisation in industry and the extent to which it had been put into practice- in the organisation and operation of the factory visited, which had been the pioneer in New Zealand in many branches of the printing and publishing trade. In the afternoon their Excellencies attended the break-up ceremony of the Girls’ High School in His Majesty’s Theatre, where an interesting address was delivered by the Governor-General, and in the evening Lord and Lady Bledisloe were present at the Boys’ High School function in the Town,Hall, where the boys listened with keen interest to a stirring address by his Excellency. Their Excellencies will conclude their Dunedin visit this - morning and will leave for the north by the 11.34 train.